Fakesgiving is a holiday with a twist. It’s a made-up Thanksgiving that doesn’t follow any official calendar. Families and friends plan it when their schedules finally match up.
People gather around tables filled with food, laughter, and easy conversations.
Nobody worries about the “real” date. What matters most is being together. This simple idea has turned into a much-loved tradition for many. It takes the pressure off and makes room for more memories.
What makes Fakesgiving so special is its heart. It welcomes anyone who needs extra time to celebrate. Some people can’t travel on the main holiday. Others have different plans with other relatives.
Fakesgiving gives everyone a second chance to sit, eat, and enjoy the moment. There are no strict rules. People make their own way of celebrating. In the end, it’s not the day on the calendar that counts. It’s the people around the table.
Fakesgiving Timeline
Autumn Harvest Feast in Plymouth
English colonists and Wampanoag people share a multi-day harvest feast in Plymouth, later mythologized as the “First Thanksgiving,” helping establish the model of a shared autumn meal centered on gratitude and community.
Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln proclaims a national “Day of Thanksgiving and Praise” to be observed on the last Thursday in November, helping formalize the idea of an annual late-autumn gathering for reflection and shared meals.
FDR Moves Thanksgiving for Shopping Season
President Franklin D. Roosevelt shifts Thanksgiving from the last to the second-to-last Thursday in November to extend the holiday shopping season, prompting some states and families to celebrate on different dates and showing how flexible the holiday’s timing could be.
Thanksgiving Fixed as Federal Holiday
Congress passes a joint resolution, signed by Roosevelt, establishing the fourth Thursday in November as the official federal Thanksgiving holiday, setting a national standard date while leaving individuals and communities free to hold additional or alternative feasts.
Major Dictionary Adds “Friendsgiving”
Merriam-Webster adds “Friendsgiving” to its dictionary, defining it as a Thanksgiving meal with friends often held on a day near the official holiday, highlighting the growing popularity of off-date autumn feasts with chosen family.
How to Celebrate Fakesgiving
Fakesgiving offers a flexible way to gather with loved ones and enjoy a festive meal outside the traditional holiday schedule. Here are some creative ideas to make your Fakesgiving celebration memorable:
Host a Recipe Swap
Encourage guests to bring dishes they’ve never made before. This adds variety to the meal and sparks culinary creativity. Sharing new recipes can lead to delightful surprises and new favorites.
Create a Gratitude Wall
Set up a space where attendees can write what they’re thankful for on sticky notes or cards. Displaying these messages fosters a sense of community and appreciation.
It’s a visual reminder of the positive aspects of life.
Organize Themed Games
Plan activities like a “pin the feather on the turkey” game or a Fakesgiving trivia quiz. These games add fun and laughter to the gathering.
They also help break the ice among guests who may not know each other well.
Set Up a DIY Photo Booth
Designate an area with props and a festive backdrop for guests to take pictures. This provides a fun activity and creates lasting memories. Sharing these photos can extend the joy beyond the event.
Volunteer Together
Consider spending part of the day helping at a local food bank or shelter. Giving back to the community embodies the spirit of gratitude. It’s a meaningful way to bond with friends and family.
History of Fakesgiving
Fakesgiving began as a creative solution for those unable to celebrate Thanksgiving on its traditional date. In 2009, Zach Patton and Clay Dunn hosted their first Fakesgiving in Washington, D.C., aiming to test holiday recipes ahead of time.
They coined the term after a friend mentioned hosting a similar event the night before Thanksgiving.
The concept gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when many people sought alternative ways to connect with loved ones.
Fakesgiving provided an opportunity to gather safely and flexibly, accommodating various schedules and circumstances.
Pop culture also played a role in spreading the idea. In the film To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, the Covey family celebrates Fakesgiving in March to honor a cherished family tradition.
Over time, Fakesgiving has evolved into a personalized celebration. People tailor it to their preferences, choosing dates, menus, and activities that suit their needs. Whether it’s a potluck with friends or a quiet dinner with family, Fakesgiving emphasizes togetherness and gratitude.
Today, Fakesgiving continues to offer a flexible and inclusive way to celebrate, allowing individuals to create meaningful traditions that fit their unique circumstances.
Facts About Fakesgiving
Flexible Rituals Help Modern Families Stay Connected
Researchers who study “ritual flexibility” have found that many families now regularly shift the timing, location, and participants of major holiday meals to deal with divorce, blended households, shift work, and travel demands.
Sociologist William J. Doherty notes that moving or reinventing rituals, rather than abandoning them, can strengthen family bonds by emphasizing connection over strict adherence to the calendar.
Friendsgiving and “Chosen Family” Feasts Have Deep Social Roots
The informal Thanksgiving-style meal known as Friendsgiving grew alongside broader “chosen family” networks, especially among young adults, LGBTQ+ communities, and people living far from relatives.
These gatherings mirror long-standing anthropological findings that people create kin-like bonds through repeated shared meals, gift exchange, and traditions that feel family-like even without blood ties or legal ties.
Thanksgiving Is One of the Busiest and Most Expensive Travel Periods
In the United States, the Thanksgiving period is consistently among the most congested travel times of the year, making it hard for many people to be in one place on the official day.
The American Automobile Association has reported tens of millions of travelers on Thanksgiving weekend, and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics notes that trips during this period are longer, more likely to involve overnight stays, and can be significantly more expensive than off-peak travel.
Hospitality Workers Often Miss the “Real” Holiday
Millions of people employed in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, retail, and emergency services work on or around Thanksgiving, which means they frequently cannot attend a main-day feast.
Labor statistics show that accommodation and food service alone employs more than 14 million workers in the United States, many of whom face peak demand on holidays, leading families to shift their big meal to a different date so everyone can participate.
Shared Meals Have Measurable Psychological Benefits
Psychologists have found that regularly eating with others is linked to lower levels of loneliness and depression and to higher life satisfaction.
One large survey in the United Kingdom reported that the more often people shared meals, the more they felt bonded to those around them, suggesting that the act of gathering at a table for food and conversation itself supports mental well-being, regardless of the date on the calendar.
Practicing Gratitude Changes How People Feel and Relate
Research on gratitude shows that intentionally reflecting on what one is thankful for can increase positive emotions, improve sleep, and strengthen relationships.
Experiments led by psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough found that people who kept gratitude lists felt more optimistic and more connected to others than those who focused on daily hassles, highlighting how even simple gratitude rituals at a meal can have lasting effects.
Leftover Feasts Are a Longstanding Part of Thanksgiving Culture
While the main Thanksgiving meal gets the attention, surveys and food media consistently show that many people look forward just as much to the days of leftovers, from turkey sandwiches to reimagined casseroles.
The United States Department of Agriculture even publishes detailed food safety guidance specifically for safely cooling, storing, and reheating large holiday meals, acknowledging how central “second-day” feasts and repeat gatherings have become to the broader Thanksgiving tradition.
